Discover big gray nose bat species in Vietnam

MSc Vu Dinh Thong, a researcher on bat species of the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology) said he has discovered a large gray nose bat species. This rare species of bat in the world.

A team of scientists from the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources collaborated with experts from 7 countries such as England, Iceland, Germany, Malaysia, Thailand . to conduct bat surveys in the National Park. (Cat Ba National Park) and Cuc Phuong National Park in August, September 2006.

The above-mentioned bat survey program is funded by the Darwin Initiative and the BP Conservation Program (the BP Conservation Program).

Through investigation, scientists have discovered a large species of gray-nose bat in the two above-mentioned national parks. This is the first time a large gray nose bat species has been discovered in our country.

The large gray nose bat has the scientific name Hipposideros grandis. This bat species has been one of the few objects in the world that is of special interest. They were first discovered in 1936 in the Akunti mountains of Myanmar.

Large gray nose bat. (Photo: Vu Dinh Thong)

Large gray nose bats weigh 30-40g, have short, soft fur, often have dark colors in the back and yellowish brown in the abdomen. Young children often have darker hairs than adults. The entire wing and tail membranes are dark brown.

However, due to the external morphological characteristics and body size very similar to the small gray nose bat (Hipposideros larvatus), the large gray nose bat has not been identified as a separate species, but only as a special form. of small gray nose bats.

Before being discovered in Vietnam, data about large gray nose bats were very limited. Only one individual of this species is recorded in Thailand and a few are recorded in Myanmar.

The above survey results show that large gray nose bats are living in Vietnam with relatively large numbers. They often live with small nose-nosed bats (Hipposideros of alongensis).

According to experts on bat research, the discovery of this bat species in Vietnam has a particularly important role. They not only have additional meaning about the number of bat species of our country but also show that the bat fauna in Vietnam has and contains hidden, diverse and rich values.

According to expert Vu Dinh Thong, in Vietnam, every new species is discovered every time. According to the survey results, each National Park in the two national parks surveyed has about 300-500 large gray nose bats.

The emergence of this new bat has increased the number of species for Vietnam to 111 species, 7 families, 32 varieties and this number continues to last longer.

MYSTICAL GEM